Candle Magic

July 5, 2006 | Comments Off

Probably since the first candle was lit by an early Egyptian (or Roman, depending on how picky you want to be about what makes a “candle”) candles have been a part of ritual and magic. The ancient peoples considered the flame a live entity and the light and warmth it shed energy which added to the energy of the people, or the spellcaster, to take their prayers to the rulers of the universe.

Yes, I worded that bit rather carefully. For you see, candles are equally a part of Christian ritual, Pagan ritual, Buddist and Hindu meditation and many other belief systems. Read more

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Ritual 

Anahita - Persian Goddess

July 5, 2006 | Comments Off

Copyright © 2005 Anna Franklin & Wade White
reprinted by permission

Sustaining Waters

ANĀHITĀ [“Immaculate One”(1) ]: A pre-Zoroastrian Water-Goddess of Persia whom the occupying Greeks identified with ARTEMIS [Fox 2004: 141], and was associated with the Moon [Farrar 1987: 195]. She was also known by the epithet, Arēdvī Sūrā Anāhitā, “the Moist One, the Strong One, the Pure One,” and invoked as the personification of water:

“Hither flowed Arēdvī Sūrā Anāhitā . . .
she causes some waters to stand still,
she lets others flow, suitably,
she makes free a dry passage
through the Vanghuī [Vaŋhuī]
and the Vītanghvaitī [Vītaŋhvaitī]
rivers.”
Avesta, Yasht V.78;
5th to 1st century BCE.

Read more

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Goddess Studies 

Visitors are orange

July 4, 2006 | Comments Off

At least they were the other day. I was sitting down after a round of weeding, when a monarch butterfly came to dance all around me . . . of course I didn’t have my camera and I didn’t want to disturb its play. Then, while the monarch was still flying circles, an orange cardinal showed up.  I’m used to seeing them more of a red color. But there they both were, and me without my camera.

 Just goes to show, you never know who’s going to be at the labyrinth at any given moment.

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Labyrinth Journal 

Frontpage updated

July 4, 2006 | Comments Off

We’re doing some updates on the website this summer. We’ve given our frontpage a facelift. Can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve posted anything! Sorry about the hiatus. We’ve been doing lots of stuff at the store, in the labyrinth, and then there was the trip to Mythic Journeys. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for details today.

 Happy 4th!

Posted by Jane Hansen | Filed Under Fresh News 

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